Pit-car.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

J. GHILDS.

PIT CAR.

APPLICATION IILBD MAR. 2, 1908.

Snow Won I GttomnugS.

wvi b1 eases JESSE OHILDS, OF RUSSELLTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

PIT-CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed March 2, 1908. Serial No. 418,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE CI-IILDs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Russellton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pit-Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to pit cars and the primary object of my invention is, to provide positive and reliable means for holding the end gate or door of the pit car in a closed po sition.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means for preventing the wearing of an end gate latch.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of'parts to be presently described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a pit car constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of an end gate or door equipped with my improvement. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 1s a perspective vlew of a keeper. Fig. 5 1s an.elevat1on of an end gate or door equipped with a modified form of my improvement. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the same, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a locking bar forming part of the modifications of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a pit car having an end gate or door 2.

adapted to swing, to permit of the contents of said car being discharged at a coal tipple. The lower edge of the gate or door 2 is provided with a, central vertical slot 3, to clear a keeper 4 secured to thedraw-bar or bottom of the car 5, this keeper having an inclined face 6, the object of which will presently appear.

Pivotally connected to the gate or door 2, as at 7 is a latch 8 having a handle 9 extending through a guide 10 secured to the gate or door 2. The latch 8 is provided with a roller or revoluble sleeve 1 1, this roller lying transverse of the slot 3, when the latch 8 is in a closed position.

By elevating the latch 8 to clear the keeper 4, the gate or door can be swung open. When the gate or door is released, it will swing to a closed position by gravity, and the roller or sleeve 11 will ride upwardly upon the in clined face 6 of the keeper 4, elevate the latch 8 and allow the same to drop behind the keeper upon the gate or door 2, assuming its normal or closed position. It will thus be observed that the roller or sleeve 11 reduces the wear and tear upon the latch 8 and the keeper 4 to a minimum.

In Figs. 5 and 7 inclusive, I have illustrated a modification of my invention, wherein the gate or door 2 has its lower edge recessed and slotted, as at 12 for a pivoted latch 13, said latch having a beveled central projection 14 adapted to engage behind a pivoted locking bar 15 of the gate or door. The latch 13 has its ends bent downwardly, as at 16 to engage stops or keepers 17, carried by the bottom of the car. When the locking bar 15 is swung upwardly to release the latch 13, said latch can swing to clear the keepers 17, and allow the gate or door 2 to swing open. The lock-bar 15 will then rest upon the beveled projection 14, but as the gate or door swings to a closed position, the latch 13 engaging the keepers 17, causes the projection 14 to elevate the locking-bar 15 and permit of said bar dropping to its normal position in front of the projection 14, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

It is thought that my invention will be understood without further description and I reserve the right to make any structural changes as are permissible by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

In a pit car, the combination with an end gate having a slot formed therein, of a keeper arranged upon said car, a pivoted latch car ried by said gate, and adapted to engage said keeper, and a roller carried by said latch for contacting with said keeper.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE OHILDS.

Witnesses:

J. W. MAGILL, G. O. MAGILL. 

